Electrical apparatus for use of ultra-violet rays.



No. 733,343. PATENTED JULY 7, ).903l

F. F. STRONG'.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS EUR USE 0F ULTRA VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11,1903.

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UNITED STATES :Eatented July 1903.v

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK FINCII STRONG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO 'FRANK H.SWEET, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR USE OF ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,343, dated July 7,1903.

Application led May 11,1903. Serial No. 156,565; (No modem drawings, isa specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

My invention is an improved ultra-violet generator or device forgenerating and applying to the human body or Wherever desired Waves ofshort lengths between the green rays of the spectrum and the Becquereland Roentgen rays, comprising mainly violet light-rays and ultra-violetrays.

The recent activity following the results obtained by the Finsen lighthas brought forth a number of different forms of apparatus for thisgeneral purpose, which, however, are in the main costly and cumbersomeand require connection with a dynamo or commercial service-Wire. Inendeavoring to devise a convenient portable apparatus for general useadapted to the conditions met with by the` country physician as well asthe city practitioner I have succeeded in producing the herein-describedapparatus, which does not depend in anyway upon a commercialservice-wire, but is operable by a usual dry battery or other form ofcomparatively small battery in connection with an induction-coil of theRuhmkorff kind simply by using a Geissler tube or other convenientvacuum-tube provided with a quartz lens or equivalent device transparentto the ultra-violet Waves, as herein set forth. This form of apparatuscan be economically constructed and used, is entirely portable, andoccupies very little space.

In the drawing I have illustrated a preferred form of my apparatus.

The tube, as herein shown, is cylindrical, this form being best adaptedto certain surgical purposes; but it will be understood that any otherform of tube may be used, as desired.

In a Geissler tube a is mounted, in usual manner, an electrode Ct,containing a mirror d2 and connected at as with a terminal wire a4,leading from a suitable generator of highvoltage current, (herein shownas an induction-coil 5,) said terminal a4 leading from one end of thesecondary b thereof, the other end a5 of said secondary, When requiredby the form of apparatus used,leading to an opposite electrode a5 Withinthe vacuum-tube. At its outer end I provide a lens CLT, of quartz orother material transparent to the ultra-violet rays, this lens beingcemented or ground into place and properly fixed so as not to interferewith the vacuum Within the tube. The tube contains a residue of gases orvapors which have the power of giving out large quantities ofultra-violet rays in their spectrum, especially when excited by ahigh-voltage current With a pressure of, say, about one one-thousandthof an atmosphere, among such gases or vapors being acetylene gas, iodinvapor, mercury vapor, and hydrogen gas. The tube a is preferably incasedin a hard-rubber or other covering as. The primary b2 of the coil b isconnected through a suitable interrupter b3 to a suitable battery c.This apparatus may be inclosed in a small case, so that the entireapparatus is portable, and the rays can be generated independently ofany arc-lamp or other electric circuit or expensive highfrequencymachine or apparatus.

The tube d preferably has a length sui'- cient to reach the affectedpart-e. C the cervix uteri-and to project conveniently for propermanipulation, and in connection there- I with I may use a handle orsupporting-standard ct,adj ustable at ctw to suit special requirements.Preferably insulating material L12 is filled in at the outer end to givesolidity and strength. The incasing part as is preferably sealed aroundthe lens at a, and this also provides means for pressing against andconfining the tissue being treated, tending to dehematize the tissues,thereby rendering them permeable to the ultra-violet rays. v

I believe that I am the first to develop for use the rays in question bya vacuum-tube, and in practice I have found that very satisfactoryresults may be obtained byy this simple and convenient form ofapparatus.

In use the tube is introduced to the part to be treated, and the quartzlens is pressed against the tissues at the seat of the disease.

IOO

The battery-current being turned on through the primary of the coil,causes the high-voltage current to ioW through the residual vapor in thevacuum-tube, causing the particles of said vapor to vibrate at such arapid :rate as to impinge upon the surrounding ether and causeultra-violet rays to ll the tube and radiate out through the lens a7upon the diseased tissue, thereby producing the desired action thereon.The glass e being nearly opaque to ythese rays, reiiects them back fromthe sides of the tube, concentrating them in a stream whichv passesfreely through the transparent lens a?.

It Will be understood that I do not restrict myself to all theconstructional details, arrangement, and combination of parts, as shownherein and specicallyset forth, inasmuch as many variations may beresorted to Within the spirit and scope of my invention, all as will bemore apparent from the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is y l. A device of the kind described, compris` inga vacuum-tube having a discharge-electrode and a lens transparent toultra-violet rays opposite said electrode combined with a source ofhigh-voltage current of electricity.

2. A device ofthe kind described, comprising a vacuum-tube containing agas, such as described, having large capacity for ultraviolet rays inits spectrum, and said tube having a discharge-electrode, and a lenstransparent to ultra-violet rays opposite said electrode, combined witha source of high-voltage current of electricity.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a vacuum-tube having adischarge-electrode, being inelosed in a protecting covering as, and alens transparent to ultra-violet rays opposite said electrode, combinedwith a source of high-voltage current of electricity.

et. A device of thekind described, comprising a vacuum-tube having adischarge-electrode, and a lens transparent to ultra-violet raysopposite said electrode, combined with an induction-coil, interrupter,and battery, said inductiomcoil having its secondary connected to saidelectrode and its primary connected through said interrupter to saidbattery.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a vacuum-tube providedwith a dischargeelectrode, a lens in one end of said tube transparent toultra-violet rays and a projecting bearing beyond said lens for restingupon the part being treated by the device.

G. A device of the kind described, comprising'a vacuum-tube having adischarge-electrode, a lens in the end of said tube transparent toultra-violet rays, and a handle adjustably mounted on said tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK FINGH STRONG.

Witnesses:

Guo. H. MAXWELL, FRED S. GREENLEAF.

